Argentina gripped by telecoms strike

'Exploited' workers demand more dosh

Argentina's phone network is reportedly "on the verge of collapse" following almost a week of industrial action by telecoms workers. More than 20,000 workers of the country's two major telcos are striking for more pay claiming they are being "exploited".

The country's telecoms network is beginning to creak under the strain of the strike with parts of it already failing with calls between Argentina and Caribbean countries the first to be hit.

In the capital Buenos Aires, the action has intensified with workers storming and holding buildings belonging to the country's telcos. Others have been demonstrating outside as part of their demands for a 25 per cent increase in wages.

As spokesman for Telefónica de Argentina told Bloomberg: "We are in fact starting to feel the consequences of the deterioration in services, which are the responsibility of the union that assaulted and is holding buildings needed for telecommunication operations." ®